SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As Groundhog Day rolls around every year and a rotund rodent named Punxsutawney Phil decides winter’s fate, some San Diegans may find themselves wondering: are there groundhogs here?
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are large burrowing rodents native to eastern and central parts of the United States. Think Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York—places with long winters, deep freezes and a real need for hibernation.
San Diego’s mild winter climate and coastal terrain doesn’t really match the kind of habitat groundhogs thrive in, so the odds of seeing one locally is slim to none. It would be out of the ordinary, according to officials at the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources sector.
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If you’ve ever spotted a chunky, brown critter darting across Mission Trails or popping up in East County, you’re not imagining things — you’re just not likely looking at a groundhog. The region is home to several animals that are often mistaken for them, including:
- California ground squirrels, the most common look-alikes
- Pocket gophers, famous for their mysterious dirt mounds
- Moles, which have slender and pointed snouts
These animals may dig, scurry and sunbathe like groundhogs, but biologically speaking, they’re different branches of the rodent family tree…